Allawi Does Not Expect New Government to Last

Head of Al Iraqiya List Iyad Allawi does not expect a coherent and stable Iraqi government, Allawi said in an interview with Reuters from London.

“The formula for power sharing has been distorted and the issue of devolution has been distorted so I am not sure whether a coherent government can be formed,” he told Reuters on Tuesday.

“Still we have some time to discuss issues and to see if this will happen or not,” he added. When asked if the government could last long, he said: “No”.

Allawi affirmed that he would not join a new cabinet. “I am not going to be part, in any case, of the council of ministers. It is not currently suggested or offered or the Iraqiya list want me to be a member”.

A Iraqiya leader said he had not decided whether to accept the new position of head of the national policy council offered to him.

Allawi on the other hand downplayed the walk-out from parliament by members of his bloc last week, saying the disagreements behind it had been settled. He said he would not return to Baghdad for the opening of parliament on Nov. 2 as he was in London for his daughter’s wedding, he noted.